Journal publishes new article on the contamination of biodiversity with genetically engineered plants

Munich, 31.12.2013 The results of a Testbiotech project on the uncontrolled spread of genetically engineered plants has been published in a review article in the international journal Environmental Sciences Europe. The article includes a global overview of regions and plant species that are being contaminated by genetically engineered plants. The authors of the report are calling for the precautionary principle to be strengthened and a ban on the release of genetically engineered organisms that cannot be removed from the environment.

Through its industry-independent reports, statements and projects Testbiotech has been pushing since 2009 for more public debate on the long-term impact of biotechnology and genetic engineering. The uncontrolled spread of genetically engineered organisms into the environment was the focus of one of its projects in 2013. Other projects currently include a lawsuit filed at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) opposing the market approval of a genetically engineered soybean, opposition to the controversial market authorisation of the genetically engineered maize SmartStax, opposition to patents on genetically engineered great apes and a petition in the German Parliament for more independent research. These projects will continue in 2014.

In 2013 the work of Testbiotech has also contributed to the withdrawal of an application to release genetically engineered flies in Spain and the vote of the Environmental Committee in the European Parliament against the approval of genetically engineered maize 1507 for cultivation in the EU.